Breastfeeding vs formula

[Keyboard91]

I have a medical condition that means I will need to be on medication within 2 weeks of birth which will mean I cannot breastfeed from that point.

I always had the ‘I’m going to breastfeed’ dream and if it wasn’t for my disability, we’d be planning on BF from day 1. However, knowing that the longest I’ll be able to do it is 2 weeks, and that it may well be less than that, I’m now in two minds.

I’ve read a lot about how it takes time for it to establish etc and unfortunately I just won’t have that time (as in I will have less than 2 weeks). I’ve also read that unless you are actively feeding then expressing is very difficult and unproductive.

Has anyone got any advice? This is my first baby so it’s not something I have any experience of. I just want to do the best I can for him.

I’m also at high risk of a C-Section if that has any bearing?

I’m fully aware breast is best so please don’t hammer that in and make me feel any worse than I already do. And I am sure I can’t BF with the medication. It’s nasty stuff, caused at least 1 of my 2 MCs ... but it keeps me alive and able to walk so is a necessary evil.

Thank you in advance :)

The concept that breast-feeding can modulate the immune system despite a genetic predisposition has been supported by fundamental experiments using specific strains of mice. If rag2+/– mouse pups, mice that do not contain T cells, are breast-fed after birth by rag2−/− mice, the immune response as measured by antigen-specific immunoglobulins is impaired, whereas rag2+/– pups breast-fed on rag2+/+ mice showed specific immune responses (66).

Antibodies in milk were detected in 1903 by Schlossman and Moro. Maternal antibodies do have immune-modulating effects in the offspring. Availability of maternal antibodies during pregnancy is guaranteed by transport across the placenta by neonatal Fc-receptors. After birth, immunoglobulins are found in colostrum and mature breast milk.

IgG and IgM are transferred from mother to her infant via breast milk. As for IgA, it is known that these antibodies protect the infant against infections passively. They also influence the immune repertoire of the offspring. The repertoire of idiotypic (ID) antibodies, T-cell clones, and B-cell clones is determined by antiidiotypic interactions of the autologous host, in this case the receiving infant. This idiotypic network has been postulated by Jerne (67) in the early 1970s. Subsequently, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, many experiments were performed to establish the effect of maternal antibodies on the immune response in offspring, to prove that the ID network does play a role in the immune response of offspring (68).

I can continue but why should I? The information is on the first pages/abstracts of each study or journal article linked.

If you just want to dismiss it as ‘bullshit’ without reading it then that’s up to you.

I read them and then commented! They all also say that they cant say the benefits definitely continue into adulthood; that there are lots of other factors involved in allergy development, and ome of them also as I'm already aware of talks about other studies which have found more chance of conditions such as asthma in breastfed children.

I'm not saying breastmilk isn't great. I'm saying that there is genuinely no scientific basis to say that formula is so inferior to breastmilk in terms of long term health outcomes that women should worry if they cant breastfeed or dont want to.

All the studies you and others have linked clearly say that. Yet you feel the need to come onto the thread of a mum to be who is clearly worried about not being able to breastfeed, and has clearly stated she already feels that breast is best so please no hammering that in , and you still feel the need to spout your views here, even if it's not accurate - in that you're overstating what research shows, even when the authors themselves aren't agreeing with you. Its shameful really.

Okidoke 👍

This is how these threads always go.

OP wondering if breastfeeding only for a few days is doable/worth it.

Posters reply that yes! Baby will still get benefits of breastfeeding no matter how long for!

Posters then called lactivists and told that no, you’re wrong, breast milk and formula are just the same!

When pointing out that actually this isn’t true, told ‘PROVE IT THEN! Ha! You can’t!!’

Studies proving posters statements are true are posted.

Answered by ‘no!! Bullshit!! Not true!! You’re shameful!! Why would you come here and post about the benefits of breastfeeding!? WHY!? SHAMEFUL!! YOU!!’

And so on.

‘‘Twas ever thus.

I did read them, I found nothing conclusive in them, definitely not substantial enough to back up your claim.

I breast fed for 2 weeks and my milk dried up fine.

I do wonder when I look at all the kids in nursery who are all sick at the moment with various winter bugs and germs, literally none have escaped... It's impossible to tell which were bf and which were ff

Clearly not what I said, also never called you a lactivist (cringe)

Just because you cant objectively look at your own opinion and take on board what others are saying, doesnt mean you are right. It just means you are right in your own eyes.

Other posters, other women all over, have looked at the same research as you and come to, surprisingly(!) the same conclusion as the authors - whereas other people like you, take it way too far, take research out of context to support your own agenda, and then get upset when people dont agree.

If the benefits of breastfeeding over feeding formula were as clear cut as some things we know about other things, like smoking, then I'd totally agree with you. But I don't, because we don't. So I'm not going to force the issue onto other people and I'm certainly not going to go around saying "x study proves beyond doubt what I'm saying" when it doesn't.

Righty ho 👍

The studies (plus all the others published online) are there for anyone who’s interested.

Only posted because I was asked - not because I’m some nutter come to push my ‘opinions’ on everyone.

Just a suggestion, start off breastfeeding, then if it's what you want to do then when you're on the medication, pump and dump to keep your supply up, then when it's safe return to breastfeeding.

OP if you are still reading the threat (would not blame you if you are not) then do what you feel you can do. Having a newborn and being a first time mum is hard enough but adding a health condition on top of it! You do what you feel is best for you and your baby but if you are able to feed colostrum in the first few days then that would give baby a good start. You can argue until the cows come home about bf or ff but ultimately do what you feel is best.
I was pushed and pushed into bf and people have tried to make me feel awful that I am not bf, I shrug it off but I wonder how something like that would impact others.

Re the bf babies having better immune systems - well I can tell you that I know a number of babies that were not bf who have never been ill compared to fully bf babies who seem to have an illness every other week, but then can also say the other way round also

The one thing these threads always prove beyond any doubt is that no amount of breast feeding can make kind, decent people. The amount of superior, ignorant bullying from the breast feeding mafia that I have witnessed since becoming a mum is horrible. Some people really need to step back and examine their real motivations for being so out and out nasty to other women. It’s so ugly.

Agreed Rainy.... I was so relieved and pleasantly surprised that in real life when dealing with feeding a newborn people aren't like this.

It doesn't help mothers. I'm on a fb group of babies born same month as my little one. And the number of mothers that are at breaking point with bf, not getting the support needed to make it work and are posting distraught at having to stop and worried about the reaction they will have. It's not helpful. I worry for their mental state and it is stopping them enjoying these precious first weeks. They feel like they've failed at motherhood already. It's heartbreaking.

Agreed @rainy and @praying. I have been on the receiving end of quite a bit of vitriol from the bf mafia and I am made of pretty strong stuff, I dread to think of some womens mental states as a result

The one thing these threads always prove beyond any doubt is that no amount of breast feeding can make kind, decent people. The amount of superior, ignorant bullying from the breast feeding mafia that I have witnessed since becoming a mum is horrible. Some people really need to step back and examine their real motivations for being so out and out nasty to other women. It’s so ugly.

I think many people enjoy feeling superior to others, and breastfeeding your baby is associated with things like femininity, 'naturalness', being middle class etc. I hate threads like this, where people whose only achievement in life seems to be breastfeeding till their PFB was 54 months give a kicking to someone trying their best.

Vile.

For all the pearl-clutchers worrying about OPs baby whilst piling on the ridiculous pressure and judgement.

adc.bmj.com/content/77/2/99

Shame on you.

The OP has said medically she won’t be bf - why go on about the benefits - no help to the OP.

Mine were ff from day one and yes I researched before making that decision. DC’s are healthy so fed is 100% best. Enjoy your baby - in years to come how they were fed is irrelevant.

WellErr "Since you ask (although I will be flamed for stating facts) in many countries formula fed babies don’t survive. "

And yet in western countries they do!

It's almost like there are other factors involved that aren't the formula itself but rather the water/shitty companies that make formula.

I also love the way you portray your 'side' as some poor, put upon truth sayers who are just trying to inform women and stop their babies from being poor and stupid. You're a bully. That's it.

And you really need to learn that research and statistics is not the be-all and end-all and that long term studies show that outcomes for formula fed and breastfed babies are roughly the same.

Stop making women feel shitty for their choices.

I've told the OP to FF without guilt, but I can't let this go through unchallenged:

It's a medicine, and actually is better than breastmilk in some ways (vitamin D, Iron etc)

BM may have lower amounts but they are more easily absorbed, although it may depend on the mother's diet.
BM is also more easily digested and almost all is taken up (the poos are quite different), whereas formula is cow milk based.
So, I don't think anyone can say FF is better than BM.

But babies thrive on FF, for sure.
When I went back to work at 4 months I had no qualms in giving formula when I couldn't breastfeed. And wouldn't think twice about FF ds if I had had any problems.

Have you considered donated breastmilk? There are various groups you can try, such as human milk for human babies.

Hope the OP is ok, sorry this post had turned into a breast v formula debate which was pretty much what you asked not to happen!!

As others have said I’d suggest you try harvesting colostrum (not too early on though as nipple stimulation is thought to induce labour) - no worries if you don’t get anything to store - I didn’t but it meant I figured out how to do it and had a bit of practice so when knackered after my babies were born I was able to do it with no stress. I was adamant that whatever happened I wanted my babies to have colostrum as their first feed as it’s thought to be important in establishing their gut bacteria, quite apart from all the antibodies etc.

Breastfeeding for 2 weeks if you can is a great thing for the baby but also good for you - it stimulates your uterus to contract back down again - I could actually feel my insides pulling themselves together when I was feeding or expressing in the first week or two.

If you do decide to give breastfeeding a go I’d recommend a haakaa cup - it suctions onto the boob you’re not feeding from and collects any milk - you can stick whatever you collect in the freezer and then when you’re back on your medication you can still give an occasional feed of breast milk, but without the hassle of expressing.

Good luck!

It's all this shit that has me feeling like the worst mum in the world. OP you have to do what's right for you and your baby. I had breast is best rammed down my fucking throat for years before I was even pregnant and now because I couldn't cope with BFing my now 3 week old baby I feel like a failure. I've heard it all. These people have ruined my first few weeks of motherhood at least and I think probably beyond. Do not let them take that from you.

@goingtoneedabiggercar - don’t let anyone do this to you. Your baby is perfect regardless of how they are fed. Mine were totally ff - they are now at Uni - healthy and happy. Ff gives babies a brilliant start in life. I’d recommend a Perfect Prep machine - I wish they had been around when mine were little. My friends with new babies rave about how easy they make life.

@goingtoneedabiggercar please don't listen to them, I know its difficult to sometimes but do yourself and your little one a favour and just switch off, it what I did fairly quickly whilst in the hospital recovering from ordeal having to listen to the bullshit. I was gifted s UneeQbaby kettle which is amazing before that I just used thermos flasks. A thermos flask filled with correct temp water is a cheap and cheerful way of making bottles at the right temp instantly.

@goingtoneedabiggercar, another voice telling you not to listen to them or let them ruin this time for you. You need to do not only what's best for your baby, but what's best for you.

Formula is there as an option, it's there to help women who don't want to breast feed, who can't breast feed, who want to let others feed their baby so they can have a break (Lord knows new mummy's need a break too)

I went in planning to exclusively breast feed for at least 6 months, it took my dh calling my mum and his mum over to talk to me because I was in so much pain both physically and mentally, my son wouldn't latch properly and then when he did, he chewed and he twisted, it was so painful! It almost broke me.

I now express to feed with a formula feed added in too.

Please please just enjoy this time with your baby!!